What is a Memoir?

A memoir is a genre of writing with a narrowed focus where the author analyzes personal memories from private or public events experienced, seeking deeper meaning beneath the surface experience of particular events, using a narrative tone to connect with the audience. A meaningful memoir will focus on the following uestions when choosing a topic. Why was this event of particular significance? What did it mean?

Why is it important? Etymology and definition: memoir (n.) In common usage, the word "memoir" derives from the early 15 century translation of "written record," from Anglo !rench memorie "note, memorandum, something written to "e #e$t in mind" (early 15c., %ld !rench memoire), from &atin memoria (see memory). 'eaning "$erson(s written account of his life" is from 1)*+s. ,1.e"ster(s /ictionary defines a memoir as: An official note or re$ort : memorandum A narrative com$osed from $ersonal e0$erience An account of something noteworthy1significant 2istory: 'emoirs are often confused with other literary nonfiction genres of story telling. 3he memoir is a su"category of auto"iogra$hy. .hile the auto"iogra$hy see#s to tell the story of an entire life, the memoir see#s to $ull out individual events or stories from a life to focus on. .hile the memoir is very

similar to and often conflated with, auto"iogra$hy, a memoir usually differs from the attention on e0ternal events as the su"4ect manner1 whereas writers of auto"iogra$hy usually use themselves as the main to$ic of discussion. 3he author of an auto"iogra$hy "ecomes the main su"4ect matter. Authors of memoirs usually write a"out their e0$erience o"serving an event through a more outside lens. .hy /o 5eo$le .rite 'emoirs6 !Any memoir, is a kind of history that captures distinctive moments in the life of the writer and the larger society!. Memoirs can be written for a few reasons. "o tell a story about an achievement or a lived event in their life. "o analyze important events and experiences in their life , providing enough details to help the readers understand the purpose of the text through the author#s perspective .hen we thin# of our own memoirs, the first thing that comes to my mind is our favorite times, $laces, family, and friends. .hen many of us thin# of our family 7hristmas $arty1 the smell of food coo#ing, the smell of wassail, the wincing of the younger #ids who didn(t want to try $ic#led herring in sour cream. 3he food is a "ig com$onent of the memory, ne0t we would say is the sociali8ing. A memory that is written is li#e a 4ournal of sorts, our own story. A memoir is a way of communicating our own thoughts, feelings and e0$eriences to an audience. It is a way of leaving a written account for future generations. A memoir can give a $rofound insight into the life of the $erson writing it, and give life and su"stance to a $articular time or event. .riting a 'emoir: 9ernard 7oo$er, writing in 9a0ter(s The Business of Memory (1:::), notes that "3he $rocess of writing a memoir is insular, ruminative, a mining of $rivacies1 once $u"lished, however, the "oo# "ecomes an

act of e0troversion..., a $erformance of self rather than its articulation. 3he ga$ "etween these two e0$eriences the creation of a memoir and the ramifications of having written one is wide enough, it

seems to me, to "ewilder even the most $oised and gregarious among us". 'emoirs focus on a $articularly significant e0$erience or series of e0$eriences in the writer;s life. A memoir focuses on those e0$eriences or events that carry the most significance for sha$ing who the writer is and his or her $ers$ective on the world 'emoirs contain am$le sensory details to hel$ readers visuali8e, hear, smell, taste, or feel #ey events, characters, e0$eriences, and o"4ects. 'emoirs include dialogue or <uoted s$eech that reveals something uni<ue a"out or central to a character or the character;s relationshi$ with other $eo$le, events, or o"4ects in the story. 'emoirs include clear transitional $hrases to show how events relate to one another in time and how the action of the narrative unfolds. 'emoirs $rovide reflection on or analysis of the #ey narrative events to hel$ readers understand their significance for the writer;s develo$ment and his or her $ers$ective on everyday life. .hile writing memoirs, the writer $rovides e0am$les with s$ecific details, to hel$ readers visuali8e. writers $ause in narration to reflect on significance of events throughout the writing. 3he introduction of a memoir should announce the focal $oint and get readers invested emotionally. 3he "ody should "e the main narrative1 have s$ecific details, develo$ characters, and reflect= analy8e. 3he conclusion should reinforce the message "eing $resented, and leave readers with an understanding. .illiam >innser states, "3he strongest memoirs, I thin#, are those that $reserve the unity of a remem"ered time and $lace." .hat he(s saying is that when writing a"out e0$eriences from a s$ecific

time in your life, write as if you were really "ac# in that time $eriod. ?ecall s$ecific thoughts and feelings you had and allow that to "e $ortrayed to your audience. 7reate a list of memories or events that stand out from your $ast. 1.3he /ay that my @on was "orn. A. @itting down with my wife and going over what we wanted for our son. B. @eeing my son grow u$, and the way he learned new things. @elect one s$ecific memory from your list and ela"orate on it. "he day that my son was born. 3he day was ama8ing almost sur$rising, we had gone into her last a$$ointment and her doctor said that today was the day that our son would come. 3hat is when the <uestions came on what to do and how to do it. 2ow would you li#e to inter$ret your story6 2ere are a cou$le of different ways to do so: 7hronological order (!rom "eginning forward) %r starting from the end and wor#ing your way to the "eginning of the story. @elect whichever wor#s "est for the memoir you want to tell. If writing a"out a childhood e0$erience it may hel$ to write from the $ers$ective you had as a child. According to one writer, "3he strongest memoirs, I thin#, are those that $reserve the unity of a remem"ered time and $lace". $ntroduction% 3his is where you get your readers interested in your memoir. 2ere(s the fun $art, "egin your story. 9e detailed, where did it ha$$en6 @mells, sounds, who was there6 .hat stood out the most6 'a#e it vivid and come alive to your readers. 9egin with some ty$ical writing $rom$ts to get started: ".rite a"out someone who is significant in your life."

"/escri"e in detail, the "est, most ha$$y day of your life." &ody% 3he "ody consists of the main $art of your memoir. 3his is where you narrate the story. Cou wor# on develo$ing characters and relationshi$s or contrasts. Cou may share an e0am$le of how you were at a new school "onding so well with a new friend "ut your old relationshi$s seem to "e dying off. Cou do this to #ee$ the interests of your readers and to send across your main message or $oint of the memoir. /ialogue shows us who the characters are: you can learn a lot a"out someone "y what they say and how they say it. %ne way to figure out your $lot would "e to 4ust start writing a"out the scenes of what ha$$ened. 'onclusion% .hen ending your memoir, ma#e it very clear to your readers .2C this event was so significant to you, how it im$acted their life and why its so unforgetta"le. /etail is vital. %ne way to generate good detail is "y writing down as many descri$tive words you can regarding the s$ecific event. Include descri$tions that really allow the reader to feel and $ut themselves in the situation. 2aving a narrow enough to$ic also hel$s when writing. 'a#e sure you have a solid $oint you(re trying to get across to your audience. .hat ty$e of research is needed6 Dot much research will need to "e done for a memoir. 2owever, if you have a difficult time recalling certain as$ects of your life you can interview family mem"ers, loo# through $hoto al"ums or 4ournals. Also viewing videos or listening to recordings of times in your life may aid in memoir writing. It involves a lot of self $ondering, and that is where most of the research ha$$ens. 9rainstorming through your mind to recollect the events e0actly as they occurred. 3he Eenre(s ?ange: 3his $articular genre of writing can "e very s$oradic or rather limited as far as to$ics go. It de$ends on the ty$e of $erson you are and the e0$eriences you have lived. 3he main goal is to inform the readers

of a $articular event or series of events from the authors life. As mentioned "efore it "ranches out from the "iogra$hy and auto"iogra$hy category. 3hose two ty$es of literature tell a story of a life, whereas a memoir tells a story from a life. .riting a memoir gives the author an o$$ortunity to go in de$th on a certain event e0$laining every ma4or and minor detail. A true chance to reflect "ac# on life, try to $ut $ieces together to reali8e what made you the $erson that you have "ecome today. A lot of memoirs are those done from $ersonal e0$eriences that others wonder a"out. !or e0am$le, the A+th century $roduced a lot of war memoirs. .hat it was li#e for someone who e0$erienced everything first hand. 2earing the $ers$ective and "ehind the scenes action from someone who was actually there is intriguing. 3his a$$eals to the reader "ecause they #now its factual and comes from true $ersonal e0$eriences. E0am$les of this genre(s range include: 5rint memoir1 to "e $u"lished in a community or cam$us news$a$er or a local maga8ine Audio memoir1 to "e recorded for a community or cam$us radio station Electronics memoir1 to "e $resented as a 9log entry or a contri"ution to a .e"site, 5odcasts, 9roadcasting, !ace"oo#, 3witter. 'ultimedia E0am$les of this genre: htt$:==www.youtu"e.com=watch6featureF$layerGem"eddedHvFr/vgyA5y#EIJtF))

Dota"le memoirs: "3he 2iding 5lace" "y 7orrie 3en 9oom (Author), Eli8a"eth @herrill(Author), Kohn @herrill (Author). It(s 7orrie(s e0$erience in the concentration cam$s, her memoir of what ha$$ened to her and her sister. "3he /iary of a Coung Eirl" "y Anne !ran# (Author), Eleanor ?oosevelt (Intro). ?ecords the e0$eriences of a thirteen year old girl(s life while hiding with her family during the Da8i occu$ation of the Detherlands. 3he "oo# "Dight" "y Elie .iesel (Author) 2enry /avid 3horeau(s 1L5M memoir ".alden", which $resents his e0$eriences over the course of two years, in a ca"in he "uilt near .alden 5ond. "&ean In: .omen, .or#, and the .ill to &ead" "y @heryl @and"erg has ta#en A+1B "y storm and has "een one of the most $o$ular selling memoirs. 3he "oo# shares the struggles and successes of am"itious women. "I Nnow .hy the 7aged 9ird @ings", "y 'aya Angelou. %ne of the most $o$ular American memoirs of all time. 3ells a coming of age story of a girl dealing with racism and trauma in A+th century Ar#ansas. "/reams !rom 'y !ather: A @tory of ?ace and Inheritance" "y 9arac# %"ama. It was $u"lished several years "efore his "ecoming the MMth 5resident of the Onited @tates and addresses his formative years growing u$ in a "iracial, cross cultural family. "9ossy$ants" "y comedian 3ina !ey. Is an auto"iogra$hical comedy that has to$$ed the Dew Cor# 3imes 9est @eller(s list and sold millions of co$ies world wide. "@$ea# 'emory" "y Pladimir Da"o#ov. It discusses his childhood and his emigration to the Onited @tates in 1:M+.

 "2omage to 7atalonia" "y Eeorge %rwell. 2is gri$$ing account tells of his time in the @$anish 7ivil .ar. ?eferences 1./oyer, 9ar"ara ".hat is a 'emoir6 .hat 'a#es a 'emoir /ifferent from an Auto"iogra$hy or 9iogra$hy" .ord 5ress 1* /ecem"er A++:htt$:==www."ar"aradoyen.com=writing nonfiction=what is a memoir what ma#es a memoir different from an auto"iogra$hy or "iogra$hy 1 @e$tem"er A+1B 1. htt$:==www."ritannica.com=E9chec#ed=to$ic=B*MBM:=memoir A. Elenn, 7heryl. "3he 2ar"race Euide to .riting, 7oncise, And Edition." O@A: .adsworth, 7engage &earning, A+1A. LM :A, :M :). 5rint. B. %da#, @heila. "2ow to write a 'emoir Essay." e2ow . D.$., n.d. .e". A @e$ A+1B. M. htt$:==en.wi#i"oo#s.org=wi#i=9asicG.riting=DarrativeGandGmemoir 5. htt$:==www.merriam we"ster.com=dictionary=memoir ). >innser, .illiam. "2ow to .rite a 'emoir" 3he American @cholar.htt$:==theamericanscholar.org=how to write a memoir=J.Oilgs8a3g>M *. Nlems, 9rian A. "'emoir vs. Auto"iogra$hy." .riters /igest.com. !Q. 'edia, Inc, L 'ay A+1B. .e". +) @e$t. A+1B. L. 'iami /esign 5reservation &eague, Pisual 'emoirs 5ro4ecthtt$:==www.md$l.org=visual memoirs $ro4ect=visual memoirs $ro4ect= :. htt$:==www.etymonline.com=inde0.$h$6termFmemoir 1+.3rahan, 'arcia."2ow to .rite a 'emoir." Poices.Cahoo.com. Cahoo Poices, 1) Kanuary A++*. .e". 5 @e$tem"er A+1B. 11.3en 9oom, 7orrie et al. 3he 2iding 5lace. Eermany: 7hosen 9oo#s, 1:*1. 5rint. 1A.www.%$rah.com=omaga8ine=2ow 3o .rite Cour 'emoir 9y A"igail 3homas

1B.htt$:==www.creative writing now.com=what is a memoir.html 5. htt$s:==owl.english.$urdue.edu=owl=resource=*5B=+A= Instructure, ma#ers of the o$en source learning management system 7anvas 2el$ 5rivacy $olicy 3erms of service !ace"oo# 3witter